Douglas TB-26H 'Invader' Variable Stability Simulator

bilwor · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:10 am

Edwards AFB 04/0/14
Douglas TB-26H "Invader" ("Variable Stability simulator") (27444)(USAF 44-34165) (N9146H)(Calspan Flight Research)(Variable Stability System (VSS)the basic flight characteristics of such an aircraft could be altered by a stability-augmentation system, so that a wide range of static and dynamic characteristics, representing the flying qualities of a different aircraft, could be safely simulated and evaluated in flight. Initially, only the pitch axis was converted into the variable stability mode. In 1963 variable stability roll and yaw to the VSS and finally A closed-loop throttle servo was added to the B-26 in the mid 1960s for a Supersonic Transport simulation. This was the first application of a four degree-of- freedom simulation system.

Douglas TB-26H 'Invader' ('Variable Stability Simulator') cn27444 USAF 44-34165 N9146H d by Bill Word, on Flickr

Douglas TB-26H 'Invader' ('Variable Stability Simulator') cn27444 USAF 44-34165 N9146H a by Bill Word, on Flickr

Douglas TB-26H 'Invader' ('Variable Stability Simulator') cn27444 USAF 44-34165 N9146H c by Bill Word, on Flickr

steve dickey · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:18 am

Hey Bill is this recent!? How'd you get into Edwards!?
Thanks for sharing, very interesting.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:27 am

Been there a While too, check out the tires :shock:

. Wonder if she could be had

bilwor · Yes it was taken 04/03/14.

Yes it was taken 04/03/14.

K5DH · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:33 am

What other cool stuff was on that ramp? I see a B-57 Canberra in the background in one shot.

bilwor · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 1:57 pm

I have some more on my Flickr site. If any interest I can post some of them here.
bill word

RNDMTRS4EVR · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 3:28 pm

Yes Bill please post more photos! Any Idea who ended up with the 26?

Scott....

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:04 pm

bilwor wrote:

Yes it was taken 04/03/14.

Man,

then they get flat in a flash :axe:

Snake45 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:49 pm **Posts:** 864

Great profile shot, especially of the nose, which NONE of the model kit makers seems to get right. (I can see I'm gonna have to make my own. Sigh.)

bilwor · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 8:11 pm

Scott, As far as I Know it belongs to the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum

I am going to start a new thread called "Edwards AFB" to post additional photos
.

CWBuff · **Joined:** Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:14 am **Posts:** 854

Groovy... I recall seeing one of the other Calspan Invaders parked at Prior here in Buffalo when I was a kid, then again out at Geneseo after they acquired the ship. It's nice to see some recent shots of this one... thank you for sharing them!

Fade to Black...

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2014 7:29 am

bilwor wrote:

I have some more on my Flickr site. If any interest I can post some of them here.
bill word

Voting for that, Bill! Thanks!

woodie · **Joined:** Fri Sep 13, 2013 11:11 pm **Posts:** 15

bilwor wrote:

Edwards AFB 04/0/14
Douglas TB-26H "Invader" ("Variable Stability simulator") (27444)(USAF 44-34165) (N9146H)(Calspan Flight Research)(Variable Stability System (VSS)the basic flight characteristics of such an aircraft could be altered by a stability-augmentation system, so that a wide range of static and dynamic characteristics, representing the flying qualities of a different aircraft, could be safely simulated and evaluated in flight. Initially, only the pitch axis was converted into the variable stability mode. In 1963 variable stability roll and yaw to the VSS and finally A closed-loop throttle servo was added to the B-26 in the mid 1960s for a Supersonic Transport simulation. This was the first application of a four degree-of- freedom simulation system.

Bill:
Is this the same B-26 that used to come to Edwards for the Test Pilot Program while I was stationed there (1963-66) and was from Cornell University's Air Program, or something like that? I understand they had one to crash and kill all on board. Woodie

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:26 am

Can't vouch for the truth here, but I was told that when the 26 was donated to Edwards the deal was that the plane was not to fly ever again. So the last thing they did was drain the oil, then run both engines until they seized. Could be the truth, could be an urban myth.

T J

daviemax · **Posted:** Sat Aug 16, 2014 6:18 am

Not sure if it was the same aircraft, but I witnessed a Calspan B-26 taxi out and take off from their base at KBUF in 1979 or -80. Wonder when the B-26 in this thread was retired?

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Douglas TB-26H 'Invader' Variable Stability Simulator

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